KCC approach to Electric Vehicle Charging

To:                               Maidstone Joint Transportation Board – October 2023

Main Portfolio Area: Growth, Environment & Transport

By:                              Tim Middleton, Networks Innovations Manager, KCC

Classification:           For Information

Electoral Division:   County Wide

Summary:                 This report provides an update on Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure across Kent

1.    Introduction

1.1. This report gives a broad overview of the EV charging network in Kent and will look at Kent County Council’s (KCC) role specifically in ensuring our residents and businesses are able to switch to electric vehicles.

1.2. It looks at the current numbers of EV chargers in Kent and outlines any developments that have occurred since KCC’s allocation of local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding.

2.    Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure

2.1. Electric Vehicle (EV) sales are growing in the UK and the demand for charging infrastructure is rising even in light of recent announcements to push back the date from which petrol and diesel vehicles can be sold to 2035. Demand will still be driven by the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate requiring 80% of vehicles sold in 2030 to be EV. This is not traditional refuelling as we know it. The speed, and therefore price, of charging varies from the slowest 3kwh up to a potential 350kwh. This could be the difference between charging in 10 hours or charging in 10 minutes.

2.2. Industry data suggests the vast numbers of EV owners choose to charge at home if they have access to a home charger. It is convenient and provides the lowest cost option. VAT on electricity is paid at 5% at home but 20% on the public network - arguably penalising those who do not have access to off street parking.

2.3. In order to help the transition to electrification, with all the carbon and air quality benefits this would bring, KCC have developed an EV infrastructure programme to install EV charging points across the county.

2.4. In March 2022 the Government Published their Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy and released some Pilot funding to go alongside this.

2.5. The Government has now launched the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund for Highway Authorities to apply for in their region. This is primarily focused on providing resident charging to those without off street parking. The funding is to deliver against a Regional EV strategy, in collaboration with District/Borough Authorities.

2.6. KCC’s LEVI funding allocation is set at £12,081.000.

2.7. KCC officers are in the process of developing an Outline Business Case setting out the available options. Officers continue to liaise with all District/Borough partners to determine how best to deliver against the targets.

2.8. To provide high level targets for Local Authorities to work towards, the Government have commissioned CENEX to produce the NEVIS tool. It forecasts charger requirements for each Local Authority Area to meet the 2030 decarbonisation goals.

2.9. However, it should be noted that the majority of chargers across the different forecast scenarios are slower (7kw) and this is not aligning with the private sector led investment in this space who are largely delivering ultra rapid charging (100kw-350kw). The forecast data is reviewed regularly and updated against the public EV charge point network in Kent.  Officers are in discussion with the LEVI support body to understand if forecast data is likely to change to reflect the recent announcement relaxing the government’s 2030 target.

Figure 1 – Data from July 2023. Taken from the NEVIS tool kit. Shows that by 2030 it is expected Maidstone District may need 1,447 chargers to meet forecast demand.

2.10.   In July 2023 the following public chargers were available to use. (DfT Electric Vehicle Device statistics) Source: https://maps.dft.gov.uk/ev-charging-map/index.html

2.11.   It should be noted that simply installing chargers does not necessarily mean they are being well used, maintained or are in strategically important locations and at the “right” speed. All these factors must work together to create a coherent and useful charging network.

2.12.   KCC’s EV charge point programme consist of the below projects:

2.13.              The above projects have focused primarily on off-street charge points, for instance in local authority owned car parks. Following the announcement of KCC’s provisional LEVI funding allocation, officers are building a case for the delivery of on-street charge points.  This will be subject to internal governance before seeking approval at Member level before a formal decision to apply for the funds is made.

2.14.   If KCC proceed with on-street EV charge point delivery, it will not be in isolation, but to complement existing projects.  The below prioritisation has been provisionally developed to define network planning and site selection:

3.    Conclusions

3.1. This report shows that much more work is needed to facilitate the forecast requirements for EV charge point infrastructure in Kent over the coming years and decades. KCC will continue to work with District and Borough authorities to help provide the infrastructure required for residents to make the switch, with a particular focus of those without the facility to charge at home.

4.    Recommendation(s)

4.1. For information